Hydraulic operating means for loom slays



Sept. 30, 1947. T. HINDLE HYDRAULIC OPERATING MEANS FOR LOOM SLAYS Filed Aug. 6, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 NYENTOR QLMM ATTORNEYS Sept. 30, 1947. T. HINDLE HYDRAULIC OPERATING MEANS FOR LOOM SLAYS Filed Aug. 6, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Sept. 30, 1947. T. HINDLE HYDRAULIC OPERATING MEANS FOR LOOM SLAYS Filed Aug. 6, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Sept. 30, 1947. T. HlNDLE HYDRAULIC OPERATING MEANS FOR LOOM SLAYS Filed Aug. 6, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 R M O T A N E V N M4 (km ATTORNEYS Sept. 30, 1947. T. HINDLE HYDRAULIC OPERATING MEANS FOR LOOM SLAYS Filed Aug. 6, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 30, 1947 HYDRAULIC OPERATING MEANS FOR LOOM SLA Thomas Hindle, Blackburn, England Application August 6, 1945, Serial No. 609,122 In Great Britain September 11, 1944 7 Claims.

This invention relates to looms for weaving and has for its object to provide means for actuating a loom slay hydraulically, for controlling its oscillating or reciprocating motion during the weaving cycle, and for synchronising the slay movement with the other essential loom motions, such as those for shedding and picking.

The term "weaving cycle herein refers to completion of the essential operational sequence of the loom and its component parts contingent upon the insertion of one pick of weft in the woven cloth, assuming that one such pick of weft is provided by one passage of the shuttle across the loom.

According to the invention the movement of the piston or pistons actuating the slay is controlled by a cam or cams on a continuously rotating timing shaft, the contour of such cam or cams being such that a dwell is given to the slay when in its rearmost position.

The cam or cams also preferably have a contour such that it or they have a forward and back displacement of a harmonic or substantially harmonic nature whereby the piston or pistons and the slay will have a movement closely synchronizing therewith.

The invention is illustrated in andwill be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a cross-section of a heavy loom showing one arrangement of the hydraulically actuated slay under control of cams on a timing shaft.

Fig. 1A shows a modification of the arrangement shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 2 is a half-plan of a loom corresponding to the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 including a method of driving the timing shaft and cams.

Fig. 3 is a plan of an alternative arrangement of drive for the timing shaft.

Fig. 4 is a section (to a larger scale) of the hydraulic cylinder, valve gear, positive cam and timing shaft shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 4 but shows the valve actuated jointly by a negative cam and either a spring or unbalanced fluid pressure.

Fig. 6 is a part cross-section of a loom showing the slay actuated by hydraulic cylinders located under the front-rest of the loom, such cylinders operating under control of cams on a timing shaft.

Fig. 6A shows a modification of the arrangement shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 7 is a sectional-elevation of a loom showing two of several hydraulic cylinders for actuating the loom slay under the control of a single cam fixed on a short timing shaft.

Fig. 7A is an end elevation showing the timing shaft, single negative cam, cam follower and rocking shaft for controlling the several hydraulic cylinders in the modification shown by Figs. 1A, 6A and 7.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the slay l is supported by and securely attached to a number of slay swords, 2, which are pivoted at their lower ends on pins 3 carried in the loom structure. The solid lines show the slay I and swords 2 in their back positions, while the dotted lines show their front positions, Ia and 2a respectively.

Each sword 2 is actuated by a connecting rod or link 5 which is pivotally connected to the sword at a point 4 intermediate in its length, while at its rear end the connecting rod 5 is pivotally connected to a crosshead 9 attached to the rod 30 of a piston H), which is adapted to reciprocate in the fluid pressure cylinder H.

The connecting rods 5 pass under the heald frames, two of which are shown in their lowest positions at 6.

The fluid pressure cylinders II are mounted on and attached to the loom structure at intervals across the width of the loom and each in alignment with the slay sword 2 it actuates. The cylinders are preferably mounted on the inside faces of the loom end frames 8. and in a corresponding manner on a number of intermediate frames 7, all of which extend to the front and back of the loom and support the front rest I2 and back rest l3. In Fig. 2, the cylinders are omitted but the piston rods 3!! are shown attached to the crossheads 9.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4 a floating lever M is pivotally connected at its lower end to the crosshead 9 and its upper end I6 is pivotally connected to a link I! the other end of which is connected to the lower end of a lever I8 pivotally mounted at l8 on the loom frame. The lever I8 is adapted to be actuated by th cam I9 keyed to and revolving with the timing shaft 20.

A piston valve 2|, which regulate the flow of fluid under pressure to and from both sides of the piston II] in the cylinder H, is connected by the link 2| to an intermediate point I5 01 the floating lever 14. Fluid under pressure, such as oil. enters the valve chamber at 22 and has continuous and free access to the central waist 2| between the two collars 2N of the piston valve 2|. These two collars, when the valve is in its stabilized position as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, ex-

actly cover the two ports 24, each of which communicates with one end of cylinder II. If, however, the valve be displaced slightly in either direction from its stabilised position, the collars then uncover the two ports 24 in such a manner that pressure oil flows from 22 into one end of cylinder Il, causing a corresponding displacement of piston I0, while simultaneously oil is displaced from the other end of the cylinder and is expelled through the exhaust connection 23.

The cam I9 shown in Figs. 1 and 4 is of the grooved type and a follower roller Ill mounted on the follower lever I8 is located in the groove. The cam I9 is preferably constructed with a dwell extending over an angle of approximately 120 degrees, that is between the follower roller positions 26 and 21, Thus while the timing shaft 20 and the cam I9 revolve at a constant speed, the follower lever I8 remains stationary during the angle of dwell during which period the piston valve remains in its central stabilized position and the piston Ill likewise remains stationary in its rearmost position, so that no movement is imparted through the connecting rod to the slay sword 2 and accordingly during this period the slay I remains stationary in its rearmost position.

This dwell of the slay coincides with the passage of the'shuttle across the loom, and enables a larger shuttle to be used than would otherwise be practicable with a given heald lift and a given slay sweep or movement or alternatively, if the shuttle size is not increased, or is not full increased, the heald lift and slay movement may be reduced owing to the said dwell permitting satisfactory operation with a smaller shed than would otherwise be essential. When the continued rotation of the timing shaft 20 carries the point 26 of the cam I9 beyond the follower roller Iii the latter together with the follower lever I8 is displaced by the cam, preferably with harmonic motion, until follower position 28 coincides with the follower roller I9", the angular distance between the points 26 and 28 being preferably 120. The commencement of the displacement of the follower lever I8 from position 25 towards position 25 causes a corresponding displacement of the top end I6 of the floating lever I4, towards position IE As at such time, the crosshead 9 is stationary, forming a stationary fulcrum for the bottom end of the floating lever I4, the initial movement of its top end I6 under the influence of the cam I9 causes the piston valve 2i to be displaced slightly to the right of its central or stabilized position. As an immediate result, pressure oil from 22 flows into the right end of the cylinder II and acts to displace the piston I9 and cross-head 9 (including the sword 2 and slay I connected thereto) to the left. At the same time oil is expelled from the left end of the cylinder I I and leaves by exhaust connection 23 as already described. In moving to the left, however, the piston and cross-head carry the bottom end of the floating lever I4 to the left, which movement tends to return the piston valve to its central stabilized position, but such stabilization is prevented by the continued displacement of the cam follower lever which maintains the displacement of the piston valv 2i, until upon completion of the cam displacement (corresponding to roller position 28) a further slight displacement of the piston Ill and cross-head 9 carries the piston valve 2I to its stabilized position when the movement of the piston to the left is arrested, corresponding to completion of the forward movement of the sla I.

Continued revolution of the timing shaft 20 and the cam I9 reverses the above forward sequence, so that the piston I0 and sword 2 immediately commence and then complete their backward stroke, which is followed by the period of dwell, prior to the next forward stroke.

By the use of cams-f9 having a forward and backward displacement the nature of which is harmonic or substantially so, the pistons and connected slay are given a corresponding movement, in veryelose synchronisation with the cam displacement.

The cam or cams fixed to and revolving with the timing shaft 20, as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 6 are of the positive type but alternatively, they maybe of the negative type as shown in Fig. 5, in which case the follower lever I8 may be under the joint control of the negative cam I9 and one or more return spring 29 adapted to maintain the follower lever or its roller in contact with the cam profile or alternatively, fluid pressure may be used for this purpose, as shown in the lower part of Fig. 5. Here the collars of the piston valve 2| are of unequal diameter, arranged so that the unbalanced oil pressure acts to displace the valve in the direction appropriate to maintain the follower lever or its roller in contact with the cam. profile. In Fig.5, the unbalanced oil pressure creates a constant force acting to move the valve 2I to the left, and through the connections I5 and I6 on the floating lever I4, and on the follower lever I8, to maintain the latter in contact with the cam- I9.

A modified arrangement of the invention is shown in Fig. 6. In this arrangement the cylinders II of the-pistons Ill operating the slay swords 2 are located under the front rest I2 of the loom. In this modification the piston rod is linked to the sword 2 at 4 by the connecting rod or link '5. The cylinders II are mounted at an angle as shown to minimise the angularity of the connecting link 5.

The floating lever I4 is connected at its top end to the sword at -4 and at the bottom end to a link 3|, while the piston valve 2I is flexibly linked to an intermediate point I5 of the floating lever. The link 3| extends backwards under the heald frames 6 and is linked to the follower lever l8, which is actuated by the cam I9 on the timing shaft 20.

The method of operation is exactly as already described in respect to the arrangement of Fig. 1. As the timing shaft 20 revolves at a constant speed, the follower lever I4 is displaced from 25 to 25a with harmonic motion during about one thirdof the cams revolution, such displacement providing the forward movement of the slay. During the next one-third revolution or thereabouts, the follower lever I4 is displaced in a similar manner but in the opposite direction, providing the backward movement of the slay. For the remaining part ofthe revolution, the cam has -a dwell which causes the follower lever, together with the whole of the linkage to remain stationary'with the-slay in its back position, and the piston valve 2| in its central stabilized posit on.

As shown in Fig. 2, the timing shaft 20 extends the full width of the loom, being carried in suitable bearings in the loom frames as indicated at 32. For each sword 2, a cam I9 is keyed to the timing shaft 20 for actuation of the corresponding follower lever I8 which is linked to the floating lever 14 in the manner shown in greater detail in Figs. 1, 4 and 6. All the cams I! are identical in profile and therefore all the pistons reciprocate in unison and all the slay-actuating points are equally effective.

A further modification of the invention is shown in Figs. 7, 1A and 1A. In this arrangement a rocking shaft 33 extends the full width of the loom and is supported in bearings 35 provided in the loom end-frames 8 and in any number of intermediate frames 1. The follower lever I 8 (Figs. 7 and 7A) is keyed to the rocking shaft 33, which is accordingly oscillated by the cam I! mounted on and revolving with the short timing shaft 2|]. Also keyed to the rocking shaft 33 at suitable points along its length are a number of drop levers 34 which convey the oscillatory movement of the shaft 33 derived from the cam ill to the several floating levers I4 of the slay actu ating pistons ill in the cylinders ll. Fig. 1A shows one such drop lever 34 linked by an adjustable link 35 to the top end of the floating lever M. Fig. 6A shows this modification in respect to the arrangement otherwise shown in Fig. 6. The negative cam l9 shown in Fig. 7A necessitates the use of one or both of the methods shown by Fig. to maintain the follower roller Ill in contact with the cam profile.

In a further modification of the invention a. single slay sword or a number of slay swords may be actuated by a single piston controlled by a cam on a continuously rotating timing shaft in any of the ways hereinbefore described.

In any of the forms of the invention the timing shaft 20 is required to transmit very little power since it merely actuates the piston valves 2| controlling the flow of oil into and out of the slay actuating cylinders II. The power for actuating the slay is provided by the oil supplied under pressure from an accumulator, consequently the timing shaft may be driven by a motor of very small power in comparison with the power required to drive the loom and its various parts. The speed at which the timing shaft is driven determines the operating speed of the loom, which therefore can be made readily adjustable in any convenient manner, such as variable ratio gear interposed in the drive between the motor and the timing shaft, the running speed of the motor itself may be varied. When the timing shaft 20 is running, the slay is actuated as described but stoppage of the timing shaft brings the slay I to rest with the several piston-valves in their stabilized positions.

The timing shaft may be driven as shown in Fig. 2 by means of a comparatively small motor 36 through any suitable form or reduction gearing 31, the output shaft of which is coupled to the timing shaft 20 by coupling 38 or its equiva lent.

A starting switch 33 controls the starting and stopping of the motor 36 and the switch may be operated by a rod 43 which is adapted to be actuated either manually by the operator or automatically to stop the timing shaft 2|! and arrest the slay in abnormal circumstances. When thrown to the stopping position, either by hand or automatically, the switch 39 disconnects the motor from the mains and instantly reconnects it thereto but for the reverse direction of rotation, so that the motor and timing shaft are brought to rest practically instantaneously, upon which the second switch 40 finally disconnects the motor from the mains in known manner.

Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 3, the motor 36 may be adapted for continuous running and to .drive the timing shaft 20 through a friction clutch ll in combination with a friction brake 42, both clutch and brake being of comparatively small capacity due to the small power required to drive the timing shaft and its relatively small kinetic energy. When starting up the timing shaft, the brake is first released and the clutch engaged, while conversely, to bring the timing shaft quickly to rest, the clutch is first disengaged and the brake applied.

In either case, prompt stoppage of the timing shaft, which has comparatively little kinetic energy, results in the slay being brought to rest with equal promptitude, because when movement of the follower levers I8 is arrested, the piston valves 2| are at once carried to their central stabilized positions and the pistons III are likewise brought instantly to rest by reason of the 011 being sealed off on each side of each piston. Any tendency for the pistons to overrun is effectively resisted because such overrun would act to displace the piston valves in such a manner as would admit pressure oil to oppose the overrun of the pistons.

While Fig. 1 shows rollers 50 at the back of the loom for controlling warp yarn supplied from a creel, and Fig. 6 shows the warp supplied from a beam 5|, it will be understood that either system of warp supply may be used in either modification of slay actuation.

The timing shaft 20 carrying the cam or cams l9 or I 9' for controlling the hydraulically actuated slay, or another shaft positively geared to and running at the same speed as the timing shaft, may be used to drive, actuate or control and thus coordinate mechanisms for operations such as those for shedding, picking and the like.

I claim:

1. Hydraulic means for actuating the slay of a loom comprising the combination with the slay and the slay swords to which it is affixed of a hydraulic cylinder, a piston operating therein, a piston rod aiiixed to said piston and projecting beyond one end of the cylinder a connecting rod pivotally connected at one end to a slay sword, and at the other end to the piston rod, a valve controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid to the said cylinder, a timing shaft rotating at a constant speed and a cam affixed on said shaft operating the valve, the contour of said cam being such that a dwell is given to the slay when the latter is in its rearmost position, the dwell coinciding with the passage of the shuttle across the slay.

2. Hydraulic means for actuating the slay of a loom comprising the combination with the slay and the slay swords to which it is aifixed of a hydraulic cylinder, 9. piston operating therein, a piston rod afllxed to said piston and projecting beyond one end of the cylinder 9. connecting rod pivotally connected at one end to a slay sword, and at the other end to the piston rod, a valve controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid to the said cylinder, a timing shaft rotating at a constant speed and a cam affixed on said shaft operating the valve, the contour of said cam being such that a dwell is given to the slay when the latter is in its rearmost position, the dwell coinciding with the passage of the shuttle across the slay, and that the forward and back displacement of the cam is of a substantially harmonic nature and the slay will have a movement closely synchronizing therewith.

3. Hydraulic means for actuating the slay oi h: a. loom comprising the combination with the slay. and the slam swordsc tou'wlfloldiiti 19 aflioled oil a plurality t: hydraulic cylinders; a -pistonopesatinglin ealcla-cymmderg aipi'siion rrotl attached 8. ralltyof connecting rods each pivotally com neoted at one end to a; slay sword and at the otherend-to a piston rod, a series of valves equal in number to the number of cylinders; each valve m,e cl;i piston and: projcctinge layondc the and controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid to one 0B the cylinder" in which the; piston a plurality ofi-connectings rodseeaeh picoilallyrcone nectedi at one to. 21.813.311SW01G21 andnat, 121w otheli-endsto apiston rod; a, seriesiofiiva-lwesleeual cylinder, atiming shaft rotating at a constant speed, a plurality of cams affixed on the timing shaft; each cam controlling one of the valves; the-contour of the said cams being such that innumberto theimimbemof calindnrs eanhwalvw 1o dweli istgiven to the slay when the latter is in controlling the supply. ofirlzwdsaulic fimdi to roost cylinder, a. timing: shait rotatimgxatz a-.-comstant speed=anci: a plurality oil cams affixedbomthe timing: shaft; eachcam controlling onewofi the.

its r'earmost position. the dwell coinciding with the passage'of the shuttle across the slay and that the backward and forward movement of the cam is of a substantially harmonic nature,

valves, the contour ofietlire saiducams-ihelngpauch 5a plurality: or pivoted follower levers, eachoithat aldwell is-egivenetoi-the slayewhenntllzel lattice" isiinq itslreanmost position, the; dmelidcoincielings with the passageofi thelshuttle acnossiitheslaye la Hydraulic-means: for actuating the slay oil,

which is oscillated by one of the aforesaid cams; a pluralii'ry of floating levers each of which is DWOUflJ IY connectedat-one end to one of the piston: rods, aplurality of links each of which a loomJ comprisingthe comblnailionnwithethewlayi is-:pivotally connected; at one end to a follower and) the .slayi. swordsto whichs itcis *afiixedeof': al

pl malj tyiof hydraulic-cylinders; alpismn'ioperams a,- 1 1: each cylinder; a piston; rod saiztaohemi to. each, piston. andcplgojectimg beyond; tflimpcndalob the cylinder in which the piston openamsaa pinlity of onnecting.- rods each: pivoiiallyconneeted at;onc,-en i-rho.a slam:swordeandraiirtbeuothen end; o a pi ton rod; a serries; of :values ozone; inmmm ber yto the.:numbenofroylindecs, anthems sham rotating at at constant: speed: a plintalitrysofl cams affixed on the timing shaflngeaohl camccontroliingio fiiof; the valves, the con-tour ofs the sairiacams being such, that a; dwelh is given; lJflrthBz-Sldg when, e-Jew is in; its rear-.In st-mnsition, the; dwell: oinciding with thepassage ofuthe shuntleacnoss th ,s l-ay, and that the fonwanda n'dubank disnlacea entu fhe am is of: ars ub tantiallmharmonm. ature ithe sla fi4l'. ae'mfilleme'mmlnsfily synchronizing therewith.

59 yd aul c means r rictuaiine the-ssleu of a loqmi o ior s n g the embinai pmwitlmherslay nd h lev: w r s to, hichritoia afiixecroi rat, ut iir ydr u i h mera-ammo ODE-Babe: ant ch i de vis o a mdeattecheat each, piston and projecting beypnd tlie endnofr ally: connected at one end; to one of the piston rod sya plurality of linkseach of which is pivotally connected atone end-to an arm on the rocking shaft and'at theother end to the-oppositeend of ono -of'the floating levers to that to which the v piston rod: is connected and a plurality of links th ylinder n which th z atne ommios. aiplwralltap nne ng: 0da eo iiilv allw ennoetem t me di to a ay, sw d ndret, h vqihemnendv to l i t n d-i l e ios' vela a fl l ls m num er: tome b r o qvl nde awil valveicoetml i a th lsup la of; hydrauliafl i a nei r indec: ti nioerfiwit rotatina t acmsb ntsiqee na; p131 litv of, m ed- Im ma mi ens afk actr cam, controlling one of thewalvea the-contour, of the said cams being such that a dwell is-gipenl to. the slay when the latterdsin its,-.r,earmost position, the dwell coincidln rwith ,the-passagaof; the shuttle, across theslamandthat the back ward I and, forward movement, oif,the,-camvis;-o= a u stantia y, h rm ni amm --pl tu'aiity of-v ote fo lol e s, eachoi-whichli sai d by oneof the aforesaidlcams andmeansconneotling eachiollower, lever to oneaQf. theivalves con-v trolling thosupply of hydiaaulic fluidtmthacylin h ders.

6. Hydraulic means for actuating therslay of a loom comprlslng the combination,withmhefslay and the slay swords to,which; it. is aflixed of, a plurality of hydraulic cylinders, a pistonop-- crating in each cylinder, amiston-rodlattached lever and; at the: other end to the opposite end of oneof the floating levers to that to which the piston rod lisscon-nec'ted and. a plurality of links one end rofi each'iof which is pivotally connected to-.a valverandttheother end. to anintermediate point omonel. of; the floating levers.

'7, Hydraulic means. for actuating the sla-y of a loom comprising the combination with the slay amd'the' slay swords to which it is aflixed'of a r plurality of hydraulic cylinders. a piston operatingin each cylinder, a piston rod attached to each, piston: and: projecting beyond the endof the cylinder in which the piston operates, a plurality of: connectin lrods each pivotally connected at one end toa slay sword and at the other end ton pistonrod, a series of valves equal in number'- to the number of' cylinders, each-valve controlling:

one end of eaohof: which is: pivotally connected toa' valve nd'theother end to an intermediate point on one of the floating levers, the contour of the (3311115011 the continuously rotating shaft" being suchzthat a dwell is given to the follower leverand consequently to the slay when the latter is in its rearmos-t position and that the forwarrland backward movement of: the follower leverrlsof a substantially harmonic nature.

THOMAS HINDLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in thefile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 811,012 Wcissenborn Jan. 30, 1906= 924,142: Burrows June 8; 1909 1,790,335 Weissenborn Jan. 27, 1931 2,054,150: Watson Sept 15, 1936 

